Richard Tapper Cadbury

Richard Tapper Cadbury (1768 – 13 March 1860) was an English draper, abolitionist and philanthropist. He came to Birmingham in 1794 and started a linen draper's business in partnership with a fellow Quaker. His children included John Cadbury, who was given help to start a tea and coffee business that would develop into Cadbury's. Successive later members of the family became important in the manufacturing and charity sectors, chiefly from their wealth and innovations in chocolate.

Early life Cadbury came from Exeter and was born around 1768. His father was a maker of serge and he was apprenticed to a draper in Gloucester, after which he worked for others in the town.

He entered into partnership with Joseph Rutte in Birmingham from 1794. In 1824, Cadbury senior financed John Cadbury to start a tea and coffee business next door, which later became Barrow's Stores; They had ten children: John, James, Ann, Maria, Lucretia, Sarah, Emma Joel, Elizabeth Head, Richard, Benjamin Head, and Joel. In addition, Elizabeth ran the business in his absence. They had a sizable house in the city centre.